USCGC Planetree

• Commissioned During WWII: USCGC Planetree (WAGL/WLB-307) was commissioned in 1943, serving as part of the United States Coast Guard’s efforts during World War II. • Class and Purpose: Planetree was one of the Mesquite-class seagoing buoy tenders, designed to maintain aids to navigation, such as buoys and lighthouses, in addition to search and rescue and law enforcement duties. • Pacific Service: The ship primarily operated throughout the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the Western Pacific, supporting both military and maritime operations. • Post-War Occupation: After WWII, Planetree participated in supporting U.S. occupation forces in Japan and other Pacific locations, helping to restore navigational aids to facilitate safe shipping. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, Planetree was deployed to South Vietnam in 1966-1967 to help establish and maintain navigation aids in support of Operation Market Time. • Survived Typhoon Karen: In 1962, while stationed in Guam, Planetree weathered the devastating Typhoon Karen, which was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the island. • Longest Serving Buoy Tender: At the time of her decommissioning in 1999, Planetree held the distinction of being the oldest and longest-serving buoy tender in the Coast Guard fleet. • Homeports: Over her career, Planetree called several ports home, including Honolulu (Hawaii), Ketchikan (Alaska), and Apra Harbor (Guam). • Multinational Rescue Operations: The cutter participated in numerous search and rescue missions, often assisting mariners of various nationalities in the vast Pacific Ocean. • Decommissioning and Fate: After 56 years of service, Planetree was decommissioned in 1999 and later scrapped, ending a distinguished career that spanned over half a century.